Creative Knitting Summer 2017: A Review

Creative Knitting has released its Spring 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Azure Kimono. This isn't a bad little topper for summer. It sits well and is nicely finished.

Palladium Scarf. I'm not liking how crumpled up this looks. The edges are rolling because that's inevitable given the stitchwork, of course, but the effect is that of a piece that needs finishing and blocking.

Sapphire Dreams. Very cute little skirt with what looks like elastic stitchwork that should keep it from getting baggy. Most women would probably prefer it to be longer on them than it is on the model, but it could easily be lengthened.

Summer Skies Shrug. This is an accomplished piece, but I can't help wincing at the thought of how easily it would catch on everything.

Wrap it Up. Love the stitchwork in this one. It's a statement accessory at this width, but can always be knitted in a narrower width for those who don't feel they have the panache or the desire to carry this piece off.

Graphic Arts. This is a smart little piece that sits very well.

Knit Meets Crochet Tote. The crocheted bag has a decent shape, but I'm not liking those knitted handles, which look awkward and clunky.

Arrowhead Necklace. This one just screams, "MY KID MADE THIS AT CRAFT CAMP AND I HAVE TO WEAR IT AT LEAST ONCE OR I'LL FEEL LIKE A TERRIBLE MOTHER DON'T EVEN START WITH ME."

Make Your Mug Happy. These also have that "made at craft camp" look, but at least in this case they don't have to be used in public.

Supersize Pincushion. I want to like this knitting needle pincushion idea but I'm not sure how workable it is. This cushion won't hold very many needles, and if the needles aren't balanced just so, the cushion will fall over sideways, needles and all.

Island Winds. This isn't bad, though I have my suspicions as to how good it looks from the front view when the model isn't manually adding waist shaping by pinching the waist in with her hand.

Lace Cable Cover-Up. A well-shaped, classic piece.

Simply Sweet. Oooh, nice detailing, pretty lacework, and great shaping -- the set of those shoulder straps is quite foxy. You could have fun with the colour palette or make it all in one colour.

Summer Breeze Tank. Love the lace diamonds at the sides, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the shaping over all.

One Step Sideways Stole. Very pretty lacework, and the gradient yarn used makes it fun.

Love of Knitting Spring 2017: A Review

Love of Knitting has released their Spring 2017 issue. Let's have a look at it.

Bargello Socks. These are fun. I like that the designer took those stripes several extra steps by doing them a variety of ways.

Breezy Lace Tee. Very useful and wearable summer top.

Colorlines Throw. I'm loving this one, with its contemporary vibe and unusual but masterful colour combination.

Elephant Safari Children's Vest. Very cute.

Holmes Shawl. A lovely little piece with some quietly impressive stitchwork.

Interrupted Stripes Sweater. This looks sloppy, unfinished, and in general as though the "interrupted" in the design's name refers to the designer's efforts to finish this pattern.

Ironwood Shawl. A simple and attractive little wrap.

Painted Wrap. I quite like this unassuming but visually pleasing lace pattern.

Pearls Hat. Nice piece, and it would be a good way to use up some odds and ends of yarn.

Planting Cardigan. I like this piece over all, but I'm never much of a fan of cardigans designed to lie open in the front, as they generally look too small and/or unflattering.

Raving Stripes Pullover. I love this one. The flattering shape and and eye-catching striped yoke and cuffs add up to a striking look.

Shift Change Cowl. Oooh, pretty. Love the colours and the stitchwork.

Shoreline Shawl. Nice piece. It seems to drape well, and I'm loving the Celtic cabled border.

Spring Day Raglan. Way too sloppy and unfinished for my liking.

Spring Henley. Classic, handsome piece.

Springtime Mobile. So cute. That is an especially nicely rendered set of little toy animals.

Tuscany Wrap-Cardi. Not a bad little piece, and it would give the wearer a chance to show off a favourite shawl pin.

Valley V-neck Pullover. This is a smart little piece. I note that the neckband is not very well done -- it's puckering at the vee and is pulling the stripe up in the centre -- but if you are careful to make sure to pick up neither too few nor too many neckband stitches when you make your version, your project won't have that flaw.

Vines Swatch Cloth. Nice stitch.

Warm Stripes Set. The mitts are fine, but the legwarmers look a little too much like a scrap yarn project knitted on the fly.

Noro Magazine Issue 10: A Review

Noro Magazine has released Issue 10. Let's have a look at it, shall we?

Pattern 1, Boxy Pullover. Love the colours, but would neaten up the fit to make this a Pullover rather than a Boxy Pullover.

Pattern 2, Basketweave Tee. Like the pattern above, I'd fix the drop shoulders, add waist shaping, and make this standard fit. Boxy fits simply aren't flattering on most women. As you can see, even this professional model isn't able to carry this one off.

Pattern 3, Marled Stripe T-Shirt. A nice-looking casual piece.

Pattern 4, Cabled Tee. I like this one on the whole, but would do that front panel in a seed stitch instead of mesh in order to avoid letting the whole world know what bra I was wearing underneath.

Pattern 5, Colorblock Tee. I'm not crazy about the combination of the cabled effect with the gradient moss stitch. It makes this sweater look like the result of a head-on collision between two different designs.

Pattern 6, Side Slit Tee. I rather like this one, and I even think the dropped shoulders work pretty well because the shaping is so good, but I think I might shorten the sleeves a trifle.

Pattern 7, Openwork Cowl. This is kind of fun, but it would make me feel like I was wearing some sort of artsy scarf hanger.

Pattern 8, Pleat and Eyelet Scarf. This looks a little too much like the kind of scrap yarn project that one makes up as one goes along. While drinking.

Pattern 9, Buttonhole Cowl. I'm quite liking this one with its fun and effective combination of colour and texture.

Pattern 10, Garter and Lace Cowl. This one also has too much of a scrap yarn project feel, though this one at least looks as though it was made by a sober person.

Pattern 11, Dimensional Tuck Stitch Cowl. Very pretty. The colours and the tucked effect work well together.

Pattern 12, Crochet Wave Poncho. Even a beautiful yarn and intricate stitchwork can't save a design that has the shape and hang of a Hefty bag.

Pattern 13, Rhombus Poncho. For the late bloomer who needs the world to know she is emerging from chrysalis, and therefore needs a chrysalis from which to emerge.

Pattern 14, Easy Striped Wrap. I would modify this by renaming it "Easy Striped Throw" and placing it on a couch.

Pattern 15, Chevron Jacket. This one almost works. I'd help it complete its transition from afghan to jacket by making the sleeves more fitted and adding front closures.

Pattern 16, Swingy Poncho. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may know that I hold that items meant to be worn by a human being should not look like afghans. To this I must now add that clothes should also not look like curtain valances from a 1940s bordello.

Pattern 17, Lacy Ruana. This one also belongs on a couch.

Pattern 18, Chevron Throw. The design is fine, though I can't say I care for the colour palette.

Pattern 19, Modular Afghan. Fresh and pretty.

Pattern 20, Patchwork Afghan. This design deserved better than to be rendered in a "Barbie's Dream House Meets Mudslide and Oil Slick" colour palette.

Pattern 21, Patchwork Pillow. This pillow is done in such happy colours that they make me smile when I look at it.

Pattern 22, Origami Pouch. This is a rather nice-looking tote. I would line it with fabric and probably also some sort of interlining to keep it from sagging all to hell.

Pattern 23, Sleeveless Jacket. This design looks too unfinished and crude to be really attractive.

Pattern 24, Short Sleeve Jacket. Very pretty. Love the colour, the subtle lace pattern, and the cute, stylish shape.

Pattern 25, Dolman Sleeve Jacket. This has promise but it doesn't hang well at all.

Pattern 26, Sleeveless Top with Pockets. I'd add waist shaping to this one, and do something a little different with the pockets, such as adding little button flaps, instead of going with the bow shape and the eyelet detail on each one, which isn't working.

Pattern 27, Sleeveless Top. This is pretty. And I would neaten up the fit a little, but only because that's my personal preference. This loose-fitting top does look good as is.

Pattern 28, Cross Stitch Top. Interesting texture but I'm not sure the shape is so good, though it's hard to tell from this side angle photo.

Pattern 29, Vee Neck Pullover. Pretty, though I would make this a little more fitted and add waist shaping.

Pattern 30, Broomstick Lace Shawl. An attractive wrap with a very cool and interesting texture.